Fluid-measuring apparatus



Jaaegiez 1,541,077

A. STU BER FLUID MEASURING APPARATUS Filed June 26, 1919 Patented June9, 1925.

UNITED. STATES ADOLII-I STUBER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW' YORK.

FLUID-MEASURING APPARATUS.

Application filed June 26, 1919. Serial No. 306,376.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, AnoLrI-I S'rUnnn, ofRochester, county of Monroe, State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful improvements .in Fluid-ll/feasuring Apparatus; and l dohereby declare the following to bc a clear and exact description of thesame, reference being had to the drawings forming a part of thisspecification and to the reference numerals marked thereon.

My invention has for its object to provide a fluid measuring apparatusby means of which given quantities of fluid may be accurately measuredoff successively required and transferred to a receiving chamber fromwhich it may be allowed to flow continuously or be drawn uponintermittcntly, the reserve supply in the receiving chamber serving tocontrol the rapidity with which the given measured quantities aresupplied to said chamber. o A further object of'my invention is toprovide a compact structure adapted to be used as part of the gasolinefeed, or liquid fuel system for motor driven vehicles, in `which thefuel is drawn from the fuel supply tank by suction into a suitablereservoir and from this supplied to the carburetor. To these and otherends the invention consists in certain imn provements and combination ofparts as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel featuresbeing `pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l, is a view illustrating generally a fluid measuring apparatusembodying my invention applied to an automobile.

Fig. 2, is an enlarged sectional view of a fluid measuring apparatusshowing one embodiment of the invention, and

F ig. 23, is a similar View of a modification of the apparatus. Similarreference numerals in the several views indicate similar parts.

In carrying out my present invention I make use of two communicatingchambers having a valve controlled passage between them, one of themcomprising a measuring chamber to which is connected a source of fluidsupply, the other forming a receiving chamber into which the quantity offluid, determined by the cubical capacity of the :first chamber isdischarged when the communicating passage is opened. ln conjunctionAwith said chambers I employ an auxiliary receptacle, or cup, containingmeans such as a float which is moved by fluid pass` ing intothereceptacle, and controls the necessary valves when a vpredeterminedquantity of :fluid has been supplied to the measuring chamber. rlhefluid is drawn into the measuring chamber and thence into the receptacleby a partial vacuum created within the chamber casing, and the outletthrough which 'the suction isfproduced is controlled by a valve headwhiehis arranged to be opened when the valve controllingcoii'n'nunication between the measuring and receiving chambers is closedand vice versa, the operation of theA two valve heads being controlledby the fluid operated means in the receptacle. V

1n illustrating` the preferred form of my invention I have `shown. asingle casing, which is preferably cylindrical,` and com prises a. sidewall 1, top 2, bottom V3, and interior walls, or partitions, 4 and 5.VThe latter form chambers at the top, center and bottom of the casing asshown, the sizes of which may, of course, be varied by the relativelocation of said partitions. The upper lchan'iber indi'zated by A.,constitutes the measuring chamber and is preferably of a size toaccommodate a fractional part of gallon, for instance one-tenth of agallon, so

that each time this chamber is filled and emptied a new quantity isreceived from the source of supply and discharged into the intermediatereceiving chamber B, through the passage a, controlled by the valve heado. From this chamber the fluid may flow as required into the lowermostor discharge chamber C, passing thereinto through a pipe having allaterally extending discharge endwhich is normally closed by a flap orcheck valve 7.

Leading to the measuring chamber isI a supply pipe 8, which preferablydischarges through the top wall 2 of the chamber and leading from thelatter at the overflow point, in the present instance the top of thechamber, is an overflow passage, or by-pass,

indicated by the pipe 9,y which also serves as a passage through whichthe air is withdrawn when a reduction of air pressure, or suction, iscreated in the ieceiving chaniber l. In the present arrangement of partsthe overflow passage t) is iu connminfcation with Y apparatus. In thepresent instance the pipe 10 leads to the intake manifold of ahydrocarbon engine, the structural features ofwhich are well understood.

The point at which the pipe 10 communi- Catesv with the chamber B ispreferably located in the partition l adjacent toV the passage a andcomprises the port l'Oawith which cooperate the valve head 10". Betweenports t and 10 is locatedY a vent 11, from which the pipe 12,` extendsupwardly to a point above the top of Ithe'casing. This vent iscontrolled by a valve head 11a which is opened when the suction has beenshutoff by the closing of the valve head 10" against-its seat. The valveheads a', 11a and 1()b are arranged vfor simultaneous action byconnecting the stems of each toa rocker arm 13, which is pivoted at 1stto a bracket 15 on the under side of the partition The aru operatesconjointly with the lever 16 also pivoted at the point 14,4 andanvextensible coil spring 1T, connected at its opposite ends to saidlevers and extending across their common pivot, functions to hold thelever 13, in' eithei` of its two positions. When the Alever is movedupwardly the ports a and 11 are caused to be opened and port 10a closed,and when it is in its lowered position of adjustment, the positions ofsaid valves are reversed.

In addition to the levers 'j ust A,described additional meansl isprovided for effecting the movement of the valve comprising a receptacle18, having communicationV with the measuring chamber, at the overflowpoint thereof, and 'containingvan element which is operated by fluidpassing into the said receptacle and to this end I connect the overflowpipe or by-pass'9 thereto, as indi- The interior of the receptacle 18 isalso in' communication with the interior of the chamber B so that anyreduction of air. pressure in the latter effects a correspondingreduction of pressure in the receptacle and when a partial vacuum iscreated in the measuring chamber A, it will cause the gasoline or otherfluid to be drawn through Ithe supply pipe 8 into said chamber and whenthe latter is filled, to overflow through the pipe 9 into vthereceptacle 1S. The element operated by fluid in the receptacle isillustrated, in the present instance, as a float 19 having an upwardlyprojecting stem 2() connected to the arm 21 pivoted to the bracket i2 onthe side wall l of the casing Vand connected by the link Zto the arm 16,whereby when the float is elevated the suction port 1GLL will be closedby its valve head 10b and the valve head a will be moved to open thecommunicating passa-ge e, thus allowing the fluid contained in themeasuring chamber A to flow into the receiving chamber B.

lVhile the float 19 is held in elevated position, the described positionof the valve heads a and 10b will be maintained, but as it is necessaryto reverse the positions of the valve heads periodically, in order tomeasure successive quantities of fluid, an out-let is provided for thereceptacle 18, as indicated by the pipe 24, which drains into the sourceof'fluid supply by opening, as shown` in the present instance, into thepipe 8 where it is covered by a flap valve 25 which serves asacheck-against the column of fluid in said pipe. y p

`In order that Ktlie',`oluantities offluid supplied to the receivingchamber may be measured ofln and. allowed to flow th'ereinto only as thefluid is drawn off from the receiving chamb'erand'a predeterminedreserie supply of fluid maintained therein at all times, a secondelement isr arranged in the chamber B which, like thefloat 19,-isactuated by the fluid therein 'for the purpose of controlling theoperation of the valve heads a and 10". This element in the present inrstance, comprisesa float 26 which is connected to the float 19in anysuitable manner whereby these parts riseand fall together. In thepresent instance this rconnection is effected by meansof ro'dsl27extending upwardly from the float, at opposite sides ofthe receptacle18, provided with reversely turned eiids.` as shown, extending over theupper edge of the side walls of the receptacle and projecting downwardlywithin' the latter to thepoint' of attachment with the top of` the float19. Writh thisY arrangement of lparts it `w'illbe seen that when thefloat 1.()

is-elevatedit willl also elevate the float 26, but after the 'chamber-Bis filled, lthrough the passage a', thefioat 26 functions'to maintainthe valve head a and 11n open and the valve head 10.b closed against itsport until the quantity of fiuidinA the chamber B has been nearlyexhausted. The outlet pipe 2l is very much smaller than thecommunicating passage a between the' measuring and ,receiving chambersand consequently the fluid passes fromthe chamber A into the chamber Bwith greater rapidity than the small quantity inI the'receptacle 18 isablc to escape. However, as the fluid which is drawn into the receptaclethrough the overflowpipe 9 eventuallyfiows outwardly and the receptacleis emptied before the fluid'iu chamber Bis exhausted, thefloat 19 isfree to fall with the'float 26 so that the former serves as the meansfor discontinuing 'the partial vacuum shortly after the measuringchamber A has become filled and the latter serves to maintain thiscondition'until the fluid in the measuring chamber falls below Cir apredetermined level. As` this occurs the valve 10"L is opened and 11aand a are closed to allow a partial vacuum to be recreated within thechamber B and receptacle 18.

The chamber C serves as an auxiliary storage receptacle which is alwaysfilled and from which fluid may be drawn during the time that themeasuring chamber is being filled, the check valve 7 on the pipe 6preventing the reduction of air pressure in the receiving chamber fromexerting any influence upon the body of the Vfluid conta-ined in thechamber C. i

@ne use to which the invention has been successfully applied is inconjunction with a rr stering mechanism as indicated at 35, Figure l,for counting and indicating the number ot times the measuring chamber 1sfilled and emptied. The registering' mechanism shown in the presentinstance is a variety particularly adapted for use on the instrumentboard of a motor vehicle for inH dicating the` amount ot fuel consumed,and also the ratio of work done or miles accomplishedv VAfor each unitot' fuel consumed. Such a mechanisml fully shownV and described inLetters VPatent No. Yll,el1(l,i"2 granted to-V me March 28, 1922, `forRegistering meehanisms so that a description of the details thereof'herein appears superfluous. rlhc measuring chamber of the presentapparatus may be connected with such a registering mecluinism by a smallpipe 36, Figure 1, for transmitting variations in pressure to an luatingmeans in the registering` mechanism such as a movable piston, while fordriving the registering mechanism to indicate the ratio of milestravelled to fuel consumed, there is provided a ilegible rotary' shaftindicated generally at 3'? as driven by a gearing connection as shownwith the main sha ft oi the vehicle.

ln operation, assuming the parts to be in the position shown in `Figure2, consumption of fuel willv canse the level of the liquid in thecompartments B and C to be gradually lowered. As the floatstlierebydescend and approach their lowermost positions, the valves in thepartition l will be suddenly reversed. Suction 'trom the source throughthe pipe 10 will then be transmitted through the chamber l5, b v-pass 9,and chamber fr te the supply pipe 8, and will cause the chamn ber A, tobecome filled from the main supply tank. and overflow inte thereceptacle 1B, causing the float il) to rise. lli'hen this float reachesits uppermost position it will again reverse the valves, restoring theparts to the position illustrated, ready for a succeeding operation.

The means disclosed herein for controlling the flow of fluid from themeasuringI cham' ber into the receiving chamber is equally capable of'utilization when the arrangement olf parts is such that fluid flows fromthe supply source to the measuring chamber by gravity. In Fig; I3, lhave shown the saine arrangement of parts as previously described withthe following exceptions, the supply pipe 8"- discharges into the bottomof the measuring chamber il i and is provided therein with a valve 8Which is alternately opened and closed by the floats 19d and 2G in thereceptacle 18L and the measuring chamber B respectively. Thecomn'mnicating passage between the measuring chamber and the receivingchamber in this structure is controlled by the valve a, which it will beunderstood is open when the valve 8C is closed and vice versa. With thisarrangement of parts the fluid after it has filled the measuring chamberA, or reaches the overflow point thereof, passes through the pipe 9dintothe receptacle 1821 from which it flows through the restrictedpassage 2d into a suitable closed receptacle 30. After the vlatter hasbecome filled the liquid may bereither drained oli' or expelled from thechamber by pumping it bach into the source of supply through a pipe 3lconnected directly with the pipe 8V and provided with` a elicclrfvalve32. f

The modification of the invention in which the fuelY flows by gravityfrom the main supply tank is adapted for use with a registeringmeehanismas described 1in connection with the preferred form of the invention. In th is'modilication, however, the rise and fall of the float.means corresponding to the filling and emptying of the meas uringchamber is transmitted to the regis*- tering mechanism for actuating thelatter by an electrical device comprising a switch. such as shown anddescribed in Reissue Letters Patent No. 15,651, granted to me July 10,1923, for Fluid measuring andindieating mechanisms, which Letters Patentalso show and describe another form et registering mechanism"\vith whichthe present apA paratus may be employed. In this modilication lone ofthe float rods 2T is provided witha cam 33 adapted to cooperate with aspring actuated rod 34 slidably carried in an opening in the wall of thetank and in a supporting bracket 35d on the exterior of the latter, theouter end of the rod being arrangechduring the rise and fall of thefloat, to operate a suitable switch as in said `Reissue Patent No.15,651. It is evident, however, that the present invention is adaptedilor application to motors other than those for driving vehicles, andfor use inV conjunction with other forms of registering mechanism.

I claim as my invention:

llll) 1. The combination with a measuring Y chamberl` having a source offluid supply connected thereto, a receiving chamber in (onnuunicationtherewith-mula valve controlling said comn'mnication, .et a receptacleGil vsaida'neasuring chamber,'means for opening and closing said valvecontrolled by 'fluid .in the receptacle and means for creatii'ig apartial vacuum in the receptacle to Cause fluid to be drawn into themeasuring chamber and thence into the receptacle.

3. The combination with a measuring chamber and a receiving chamber,said chambers having a communicating passage, a receptacle and a :feedpassage leading to the receptacle from the measuring chamber, of asource of Huid supply for the i'neasuring chamber, valves controllingthe flow of fluid into thelat-ter and .its passage fronr the measuringchamber into the receiving chamber, and float means .inthe rei'eptaclefor alternately opening and closing said valves. K

t., The combination with a measuring chamber,`a receiving chamber incommunication with and below the latter, a receptacle Y and an `overflowpassage leading to said receptacle from the measuring chamber, of a.

source of fluid supply leading to the. lat-ter, valves controlling thepassage of fluid into the measuring chamber and its; flow from thelatter into the receiving chamber, and means controlledby fluid in theVreceptacle for alternately opening and closingV the valves.

The combination with two communicating chambers, one comprising ameasuring chamber and provided.. 7ith an overflow, the other a receivingchamber and provided with an outlet, a receptacle having an outlet andarranged to receive fluid from said overflow, and a source of fluidsupply leading to the measuring chamber, of two valves, one forcontrolling the passage of fluid into the measuring chamber, the othercontrolling its flow from said measuring chamber into the icceivin.;`chamber, operating devices for alternately opening and closingsaidvvalves, and float means located in the receptacle and the receivingchamber working. conjointly to actnate andrnaintain` said operatingdevices in position to discontinue the fluid supply to the measuringchamber y and open communication therefrom to the receiving chamber whenthe reeptacle is filled, andfwhile the measuredquantity of fluid remainsin the'receivingchamber.

6. The combination with two communieating chambers, one comprising a.measuring chamber and provided withan overflow, the other a receivingchamber and provided with an outlet, a receptacle having an outlet andarranged to receive fluid from said overflow, `and a source of'fluidsupply leading to the measuring chamber, of two valves, one. forcontrolling the passage of fluid into the measuring chamber, the othercontrolling its flow from said measuring chamber into the receivingchamber, and operating devices for alternately opening and closing saidvalves and comprises floats located in the receptacle and in thereceiving chamber.

7. The combination with two communieating chambers, one comprising ameasuring chamberand provided withan overflow, the other a receivingchamber and provided with an outlet, a receptacle having an outlet andarranged to receive fluid from said overflow., and a source of fluidsupply leadingto the measuring chamber, of two valves,

l one for controlling the passage of fluid into the measuring chamber,the other controlling its flow fronrsaid measuring chamber into thereceiving chamber, and operating devices -for alternately opening andclosing said valves and including two Vconnected floats, one located inthe receptacle for actuating fthe valve operating devices to shut oil'the supply of fluid to the measuring chamber and open communicationbetween the latter andthe receiving chamber and the other located in thereceiving chamber and serving to first maintain the valve operatingdevices in the described position and subsequently when the receivingchamber is emptied, to reverse them.

8. The combination with a measuring chamber having a source of fluidsupply and provided with an overflow, a receiving chamber havingcommunication with the measuring chamber, a receptacle communieatingwith the measuring chamber through said overflow, of means for producinga partial vacuum in the receptacle comprising a passage leading to asource of vacuum and having a valve seat, a valve head cooperatingtherewith, aY second valve head controlling the communication betweenthe two chambers, and operating devices for alternately moving saidheads into open and closed position and comprising means controlled bythe passage of fluid into said receptacle for actuating the operatingdevices in one direction.

9. The combination with a measuring chamber having a source of fluidsupply and provided with an overflow, a receiv-ing chamber havingcommunication with the measuring chamberand provided with an out-V let,a receptacle communicating with the vacuum and having a valve seat, avalve head cooperating therewith, a second valve head controlling thecommunication between the two machines, means moved by the change oflevel of the fluid in the receptacle the vacuum producing means and opencommunication between the chambers and other means operated by thechange of level of the fluid in the receiving chamber for maintainingsaid valves in the position described and subsequently reversing theposition of' said valves when the fluid is drawn from the receivingchamber. y

10. The combination with a measuring chamber, a source ol fluid supply,therefor, a receiving chamber having an outlet, said measuring chamberhaving an outlet passage leading to the receiving chamber, a valve headcontrolling said outlet passage and a receptacle in said receivingchamber having an outlet passage, of an overflow pipe leading from themeasuring chamber to the receptacle, means for producing a partialvacuum in the receptacle comprising a passage leading to a source ofvacuum and provided with a valve head cooperatingV therewith, means foroperating the two valve heads to alternately open and `close saidrespective passages including a float in the receptacle for actuatingsaid operating means to cause the vacuum passage to be closed when saidoutlet passage of the measuring chamber is opened and a float in thereceiving chamber serving to maintain the valve heads in the positiondescribed during the presence of a given quantity of fluid inthereceiving chamber and to operate them into a reverse position when aportion of the fluid in said chamber-has flowed therefrom.

ll. The combination with a measuring chamber, a receiving chamber incommunication therewith, a valve head coi'itrolling said communication,and a source ot' fluid supply leading to the measuring chamber, of

` a receptacle having an outlet discharging into the supply source, aby-pass supplying fluid to the receptacle from the measuring chamber andmeans for producing a partial vacuum in the receptacle comprising apassage leading to a source of vacuum and provided with a valve porthaving a cooperating valve head, means connecting the valve headswhereby they are opened and closed in alternation, and means operatedwhen a given quantity of fluid has entered the receptacle to effect aclosing of the vacuum port and the corresponding opening of thecommunicating passage between the two chambers.

.12. The combination with a measuring cl'iamber, a receiving chamber,said cham-v bers having a communicating passage, a valve headcontrolling the passage, a source of fluid supply comprising a supplypassage leading to the measuring chamber, a receptacle'having a trappedoutlet discharging into the supply passage and a by-pass leading fromthe overflow point of v the measuring chamber to said receptacle, foractuating the valve heads to shut offof means for producing a partialvacuum in the receptacle comprising a passage leading to a source ofvacuum and provided with a valve port having a valve hea`d,"thc latterbeing adapted to be'closed'when the lirst mentioned valve head is openand vice versa, means operated by fluid supplied to the receptacle toeffect a closing of the vacuum port and the corresponding open.- ing ol'the communicating passage between two chambers and other means operatedby the fluid in the receiving chamber' to temporarily maintain saidconditionof the parts.

13. The combination with a measuring chamber, a receiving chamber, saidchambers having a communicating passage,aud a valve head controlling thepassage, a source of fluid supply comprising a supply passage leading tothe measuring chamber,

a receptacle within the receiving chamber having a trapped outletdischarging into the fluid supply passage and a by-pass leading from themeasuring chamber to said receptacle having a greater cross sectionalarea throughout than that of the'receptacle outlet, of means forproducing a partial vacuum in the receptacle comprising a passageleading to a source of vacuum and previded with a valve port having acooperating valve head, means for controlling the two valve headsserving to alternately open one and close the other, a float in thereceptacle and a second float in the receiving chamber and means wherebyboth of said floats are operatively connected to the valve controllingmeans.

14. The combination with a casing having a transverse partition dividingit into an upper measuring chamber and avlower chamber, said partitionhavinga discharge opening, a valve head -for closingthe latter and meansfor producing a partial vacuum lin the receiving chamber comprising a'passage leading to a source of vacuum and provided with a port openingthereinat the underside of the partition and having a valve head, meansfor operating said valveJ heads to alternately open and closey them, ofa source of fluid supply embodying a passage leading to the. measuringchamber,

a receptacle located in the receiving chamber having an outletdischarging into the supply, a by-pass leading from the measuringchamber to the receptacle, separate means in the receptacle andreceiving chamber operated by fluid in said receptacle and chamberrespectively and conjointly con-- lll trolling the valve operating meansto close the vacuum port and open the discharge passage when themeasuring chamber is filled and' after the fluid has passed there- .y'from into the receiving chamber and operating to hold said' valves inthe position dcscribed and Subsequently to reverse their position whenthe fluid level in the receiving chamber falls below a given point.

l5. The combination of a measuring chain ber3 a source ci fluidconnected therewith, a receiving chamber in communication with saidmeasuring chamber, a valve controlling the communication between thechambers, receptacle7 an overflow outlet 'for saidmeasuring chamberleading to said receptacle,

means for creating a partial vacuum in said receptacle to draw fluidinto said measuring chamber and thence into said receptacle, and meanscomprising a Vfloat in said receptacle for controlling said valveV toadmit measured quantities tfiuidilroni said n'ieasuring chamber intosaid receiving chamber.

e 16." The combination a measuring chambera source o1 vfluid connectedtherewith, an atmospheric connection'tor saidmeasuring' chan'ibei",Aareceiving chamber in communication with said measuring chaml'ier, avalve controlling ,the con'nnunication between the chambers, Va Valvecontrolling said atmospheric connection, n a receptacle, an overflowoutlet -for said measuring chamber .leading tosaid receptacle, meansiiorcreating a ypartial vacuum in said receptacle to `draw fluid into. saidmeasuring chambeiI and 'thence into 'said receptacle, and meansconjiprising a float in said receptacle ri'or controlling said valvesto. relieve said vacuum and admit measured quantities o 'llluid vfromsaid i'i'ieasuring chamber into said rcceiving chamber.

' ADOLPH ySTUB ER.

